At Bees Seeds Limited, growth isn’t just what we do — it’s who we are.
Roots & Stories is a new series where we share the real, down-to-earth gardening journeys of our own team. From first seedlings to flourishing blooms, these stories celebrate the joy, challenges, and lessons that come from getting our hands in the soil.
We’re kicking things off with Karen’s Little Garden: a story of transforming a small concrete yard into a thriving green haven full of life, colour, and purpose.
Because every garden, big or small, has a story to tell. 🌿
For 24 years, I’ve lived in my little mid-terraced house with nothing more than a 4x5m concrete yard. It was always a space for kids, pets, and drying washing. I had a few pots here and there and had a go of growing a few herbs and some strawberries… but not much else. Over time, it became more of a dumping ground for old bikes and scooters than a garden.
Last Christmas, I decided it was time for a change. I wanted to bring life back into this tiny space!
I decided I wanted a space to potter about with plants, a safe space for the dogs, but most importantly, a quiet corner for a cup of tea and a book.
I planned everything down to the last centimetre: a small greenhouse, raised beds, pathways, even a little arch to split the garden into two. With a lot of bargain hunting, help from family, and a week of sunshine in April, I stripped everything back, painted the walls, built the greenhouse, filled the beds, and planted my very first crops.
Since then, my little yard has exploded with life! This year I’ve grown peas, beans, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pak choi, strawberries, and lots of flowers.
Not everything worked out—my brassicas got eaten by caterpillars and the wind destroyed my sweetcorn—but I’ve learned so much, and I’ll try again next year.
The greenhouse has been a game-changer, but the biggest joy has been my flower border. Watching bees, butterflies, and even birds and a cheeky squirrel enjoy the space has been magical. And seeing my teenagers wander out to snack on fresh strawberries and pea pods straight from the plant? That’s priceless.
My garden may be small, but it’s given me so much purpose and joy. If you’ve ever thought about growing something - anything, even just in a pot, go for it!
You never know, you might catch the gardening bug too.
